Pole climbing device



POLE CLIMBING DEVICE Filed April 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FaBERr/QJEQ 4 x07?- 197' TOR/V573 Oct. 6, 1953 R. A. ELLIOTT 2,654,638

POLE CLIMBING DEVICE Filed April 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. F055,??- HZTZ 4 0 77- BY Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to portable scaffold devices, and more particularly to an improved portable device especially adapted to be used for climbing poles, such as telephone poles and power line poles.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved pole climbing device which is simple in construction, which may be readily transported from one location to another, and which may be rapidly set up for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved portable pole climbing device which involves relatively inexpensive parts, which is sturdy in construction, which is easily adjustable in accordance with the size of the pole with which it is to be used, and which provides a safe and rapid means for ascending and descending poles, such as telephone poles, power line poles, and the like.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an improved pole climbing device constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown engaged with a pole in operating position;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken through the pole of Figure 1, and showing the pole climbing device in top plan view with the protective canopy thereof removed;

Figure 3 is a front end elevational view of the pole climbing device of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, the device is generally designated at II and comprises a framework I2 constructed of tubular metal sections and provided with a platform I3 which is rigidly secured to the top of the framework I2. The corner portions of the platform I3 are provided with the respective upstanding cylindrical sleeves I 4 adapted to receive the vertical corner post elements I5 of a protective canopy I6 which may be disposed over the platform I3 in the manner shown in Figure 1.

Designated at I! is a yoke member whose side arms I8 extend slidably through respective apertured lug members I9 and 2|] secured to the sides of the frame I2, the ends of the arms being provided with nut elements 2| threaded thereon and with coil springs 22 engaged around the end portions of the arms and bearing between the nut elements 2| and the apertured lugs to bias the bight portion of the yoke I1 inwardly toward the frame I2. .As shown in Figure 1, the yoke I1 is adapted to surround a pole 23, and the bight portion of the yoke has journaled thereon 2 a pair of rollers 24, 24 arranged to engage the surface of the pole 23 in the manner shown in Figure 2, the rollers 24 being in respective, outwardly extending, radial planes with respect to pole 23. As shown in Figure 1, the bight portion of the yoke I! is horizontal and the arms of said yoke member are inclined upwardlyand outwardly, whereby the springs 22 exert an upwardly inclined, biasing force directed along the arms of the yoke member I1.

Designated at 25 is a toothed wheel which is secured on a transverse shaft 26 journaled in the forward end portion of the frame I2 and extending outwardly from said frame, so as to be engageable with the surface of a pole 23 in the manner shown in Figure 1 when the device is mounted on the pole. The wheel 25 is arranged with its teeth directed in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, whereby counterclockwise rotation of the wheel 25 will exert lifting action on the frame and elevate the frame relative to the pole 23. Rotatably secured on the shaft 26 is a sprocket wheel 21 which is coupled by a sprocket chain 28 to the driving sprocket 29 on the output shaft of a gasoline engine 30 mounted on the frame I2 below the platform I3. Designated at 3| is a conventional clutch device keyed to the shaft 26 and provided with a control lever 32 arranged to extend upwardly adjacent the forward end of the platform I3 and pivoted at its lower end to the lower portion of frame I2, as shown at 33. The lever 32 may be provided with a suitable yoke arrangement well known in the art, engaging the disc portion of the clutch device 3| and is sprin biased so as to urge said disc device into coupling engagement with the sprocket wheel 21, whereby the shaft 26 is normally coupled to said sprocket wheel and the toothed wheel 25 will be rotated by the engine 30, thereby causing elevating force to be exerted by the toothed wheel on the pole 23. The motor 30 is controlled in the usual manner and a foot pedal 34 may be provided on the platform I3 which is connected to the throttle of motor 30 for controlling the supply of fuel to the motor and for regulating the speed thereof. Secured on the shaft 26 is a brake disc 35, and surrounding the periphery of said disc is a brake band 33. One end of the brake band 36 is connected to the end of a vertical brake control rod 31 which extends slidably through the forward end of the platform :3 and through the other end of the brake band 36, as shown at 38. A coil spring 39 encircles the rod 37 and bears between the end 38 of brake band 36 and the platform I 3, as shown in Figure 1. The rod 31 is provided with a laterally extending pin element 39 which limits downward movement of the rod relative to the platform I3 and which is lockingly engageable with respective notches 43 in an upstanding bracket member 4| secured on platform I3 to lock the brake rod in various positions wherein brake Designated at 42 is a caster bracket having a shank. 43 slidably engaging in a vertical sleeve;

member 44 secured to the lower portion of the frame l2 adjacent the forward end of the frame- The shank 43 is formed with a vertical groove 45 and the sleeve 44 is provided with a radial pin e ement lfi a i a flat end 41 dap o gage in the groov 45 to lock shank 43 againstrotation. Secured onthe shank of pin element lfiisa disc member 48 formed with diametrically opposed lugs 49 lockingly engageable in opposedre cesses 50 formed in the boss 5i through which. the element 46 extends. Pin element 46 is biased inwardly by a coil spring 52; surrounding the pinelement injits bore and bearing on a washer 5'3 anchored to the pin element, whereby the reduced rectangular end portion 41 of the pin element is urged into the groove 45 and at the same time the lugs 49 are engaged in the recesses 5! The shank 4-3fis free to move vertically, but is locked against rotationcwhen the parts are positioned as shown in Figures; 5 and- 6. The shank 43 may be released for free rotation by merely pulling outwardly on the disc 48 and rotating said disc so that the lugs 49 will: engage on the periphery of the boss 5% rather than in the recesses 50.

Journaled to the ends of the arms of the caster bracket 42* are the spaced parailel caster wheels. 54, 54 adapted to engage the surface of the pole 23 below th frame l2, as shown in Figure l.

- Slidably' and pivotally connected to the lower portion of the frame l2 at 55, 55. are respective forwardlyextending arms 56, 56. provided with rollers 5'! journaled thereon adapted toengage the pole- 23' at diametrically opposite points, as

shownin Figure 2. The intermediate portions of:

the arms. 56- are connected by a transverse shaft 58 which is rotatably secured to. the frame l2 by a bracket 59 arranged so that the shaft 58 is free to rotate in the bracket, but is held against longitudinal movement with respect thereto. The shaft 58 is formed with opposite threads on orposite sides of the bracket $9 which arev respec.--

tively threadedly engaged with the arms. 56, 56, and the end of the shaft 58 is provided witha handle GIT-for rotatingthe shaft 58 to adjustthespacing between the rollers 51', 51- carried: on the respective arms 56, By rotating the handle 60 fthespacing between therollers 51., Si may: be adjusted inaccordance with the diameter of the pole 23 on which the device is to be mounted.

Therear end of the frame H5 is formed with. the rearwardly projecting parallel handle bars 61, El which are arranged so that the device may be moved along the ground in th manner of a con.-

ventional wheel barrow when being transported.

from one location to another. Under these conditions, the caster wheels 54, 54 serve to support the-forward end of the device during transporta:--

tion thereof. Alternatively, the device may be connected to a vehicle in the manner of a trailer bysecuring the handle barsB I, Gil to the rear portion of the vehicle, the wheels 54, 54 supporting thedevice onv the ground behind the-vehicle, and

the shank 43. of. the caster bracket @2 being unlockedtoallow shank 43to rotate freely.

In operation, the device is engaged on. the pole 23; in the manner illustrated in Figur 1-, the yoke I11 surrounding the pole and'thenuts 21 on the ends of the yoke arms being tightened to provide substantial biasing force acting to engage the toothed wheel, 25 with the pole 23. The arms 56 are adjusted so that'their rollers 5! engage the pole in the manner shown in Figure 2, and

the caster wheels 54 are engaged with the pole elevated to a desired position, brake band 36 is clamped to brake disc 35 by raising the brake rod 331 and lockin said brake .rod in an elevated position by means of the pin member 39. and a selected notch 40 in the bracket 4|, as above described. The clutch lever 32 may be rotated to uncoupl'e shaft 26 from sprocket wheel 21, Whereby the device is secured in elevated position, uncoupled from motor 30..

In descending, it is merely necessary to release the. brake. band 36. by means of brake rod 31,. the

engine 30 being cut off, the rate of descentv being controlled by exerting braking force on the brake rod 3'! to retard the rotation of the toothed wheel 25.

While a specific embodiment of an improved pole climbing device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that. various modifications within the spirit. of the invention may occur to. thosev skilled in the art.

, Therefore, it isintended that. no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed. is z A pole climbing device comprising a frame, a motor mounted on said frame, a toothed wheel journaled to said frame at one margin thereof and projecting outwardly from said frame, a yoke member resiliently secured to said frame and projecting outwardly therefrom at said one margin, the plan of said. wheel being within said yoke member, a plurality of rollers journaled on said yoke member, means drivingly coupling said wheel to said motor, a caster bracket rotatably secured to the lower portion of said frameadjacent said margin and projecting outwardly therefrom, a pair of parallel guid wheels journaled on said caster bracket, means releasably locking said caster bracket in a position wherein said guide. wheels are parallel to the plane of said toothed wheel, a pair of side arms movably'secured. to thelower-portion of the frame and projecting outwardly therefrom at said. margin, an additional roller journaled. on each of said arms,

threaded portions threadedly engaging the. respective side arms, whereby said side arms may be adjusted to vary the spacing therebetween so thatsaid-additional-rollersengage the pole at the sides thereof to retain said guide: wheels in contact with said pole.

ROBERT A. ELLIOTT.

References, Gited in: the filev of this: patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 7423447" Kidder Oct. 27-, 1903 1,299,289 Berg Apr. 1, 1919 2,174,525. Pad'ernal Got. 3; 1939'- 

